The Light Shines in the Darkness: The Darkness shall never overcome it

Dear Friends,

‘The Light Shines in the Darkness: The Darkness shall never overcome it’

This last Sunday was one of the very few Sundays in the last 30 odd years when I have not conducted an act of worship from within a church building. It was very strange indeed. And I know for many of you, regular attendees at the Free Church, it must have felt the same. We have a building to be proud of, and even when empty remains a powerful symbol to God’s continuing, active presence in the community…

…But as this time of total lockdown unfolds, we have to accept that the Church is primarily made up of the people. The challenge for us all is to do the best we can to comfort, to strengthen, and to encourage one another through all of this. To be Church’ requires that we realise that each one of us bears some responsibility for each other. Whilst I will do my best to share information, make suggestions, and identify resources to as many of you as I can, it will be for every one of us to find a place in our hearts for everyone else…

…Charity really does begin at home: many of us have our immediate families, those with whom we share our lives every day and they have to be our first priority at this time. We should do all we can to ensure their safety and security as well as our own. And then we go beyond ourselves reaching out to those who are precious to us, those for whom we have a particular concern; extended family, immediate neighbours, those whom we know who need our help, if we are able to give it…

…But then there is our church family. Keeping in touch with one another will do us all good. Many of us are on e/mail, and most if not all of us have a telephone. We have a copy of the church directory. Why not reach out to one another by contacting one another? Go beyond those who we know well, get in touch with those who until now have only been a ‘name’ or a ‘face’, introduce yourself and have a chat. This will be important especially for those of our number who live on their own and who for now have no prospect of physical company with others. And please feel free to telephone/message me too…I could do with some company as well and I intend to send a letter like this every Wednesday, and to circulate some devotional material in time for every Sunday morning…

…In the Gospel, we read of Jesus sending out His followers, (the 70 or the 72 depending on which Gospel you read), and when they came back, they told of the miracles they had witnessed. As a congregation; you, me, we together are being sent out in the same way…One day we will reassemble…Until then, be sensible and stay safe…

The Light Shines in the Darkness: The Darkness shall never overcome it